On this day in 1987, The Beastie Boys became the first rap act to have a #1 album in the US with their debut album, "Licensed To Ill." The album is one of Columbia Records' fastest selling debut records to date. The group originally wanted to title the album "Don't Be a Faggot," but Columbia Records refused to release the album under this title, arguing that it was homophobic, (to say the least!) "Licensed to Ill" was released on November 15, 1986 by Def Jam and Columbia Records, and was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2015 for shipping over 10 million copies in the US. The full album cover, front to back, features a Boeing 727, with "Beastie Boys" emblazoned on the tail, crashing head on into the side of a mountain, appearing as an extinguished joint. The tail of the plane has the Def Jam logo and the tail number "3MTA3" which spells "EATME" when viewed in a mirror. Kerry King of "Slayer" made an appearance on the album playing lead guitar on "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" and appeared in the music video which is a parody of glam metal. Producer Rick Rubin was simultaneously producing Slayer. The name of the song "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" is a spoof on Motörhead's album No Sleep 'til Hammersmith." Songs on this album are famously loaded with samples form Black Sabbath, The Clash, Led Zeppelin, War, Steve Miller Band, AC/DC, Creedence, Joan Jett and many more. As a side note: Also on this day in 1987 The Beastie Boys appeared on the TV Show, "Soul Train," where they performed "Brass Monkey." They won over Soul Train host Don Cornelius, who tells them, "You're very chilling, very hip, and we like your music." Pictured here is a limited edition double LP release with colored vinyl.#beastieboys#licensetoill#rickrubin#nosleeptilbrooklyn#rhyminandstealin#brassmonkey